The Sport for Everyone

Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat showing just how "Mainstream" the NBA is. (Courtesy  of  NATHANIEL S. BUTLER /GETTY IMAGES  http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8602142/the-nba-transformation-internet-friendly-juggernaut)

I came across an article titled "Has The NBA Gone Mainstream" written by Carles. In his article, Carles talks about how the NBA is starting to become a mainstream sport. In the years past, the fan base was made primarily of small groups of people. Now with the many topics surrounding the NBA and the use of the Internet and social media, the NBA has begun to rise in popularity. Carles points out how the internet has made the NBA fan base transform from a brotherhood to something that even casual sports fans enjoy. The one thing that I wish Carles would of talked about more in his blog was the rise in popularity of NBA players. He does not mention how the increase of talent in the NBA has correlated well to the rise in popularity. People are now following teams because they know and like particular players on the team, rather than the team itself. I think the author could also have considered the amount of advertising the NBA does. During the playoffs or for important games, the NBA floods television stations with advertisements for the game. I really agree with his point that the NBA has had an increase in fan support because of social media and the internet. Players now talk about key match ups weeks before the game. They also talk to players of the opposing teams publicly which raises excitement for a particular game. People now feel more connected to the players. Through the use of social media, fans can now follow their favorite players and feel like they are a part of a player’s life. I agree that social media and the use of the internet have brought the NBA into the living rooms of many households.